Alan Rickman dies aged 69

Alan Rickman, one of the most charismatic actors of his generation, has died aged 69.

His death from cancer was confirmed earlier today in a statement released by his family.

A star of stage and screen, Rickman shot to fame as the Vicomte de Valmont in Christopher Hampton’s 1985 adaptation of Les Liaisons Dangereuses with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Later notable stage roles included Antony to Helen Mirren’s Cleopatra at the National Theatre in 1998 and the title role in Ibsen’s John Gabriel Borkman at Dublin’s Abbey Theatre in 2010.

On film, he became an unlikely heartthrob in Anthony Minghella’s Truly, Madly, Deeply and Richard Curtis’ Love Actually and proved himself equally adept in villainous roles in Die Hard, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter franchise.

His directorial credits included My Name Is Rachel Corrie at the Royal Court Theatre in 2005 and, on film, The Winter Guest and A Little Chaos, which starred Kate Winslet.

Tributes have been led by fellow actor Stephen Fry, who said: “What desperately sad news about Alan Rickman. A man of such talent, wicked charm and stunning screen and stage presence. He’ll be sorely missed.”

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